Havelock SC will look to further boost their chances of regaining the title when they take on Police SC in their SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament first-round encounter at Havelock Park on Saturday.
The Havies have got into their peak form at the correct time and have looked almost unstoppable in their last two games where they hammered Army SC (31-15) and CH and FC (31-17) respectively.
The Park Club have produced the ingredients of a champion outfit as they look to register another comfortable bonus-point victory ahead of their showdown against the defending champions Kandy SC, scheduled for next week. Police SC, of course, will need to produce their best performance this season if they are to turn tables on the favourites following an inspiring
display against Kandy SC last week on their home grounds.
The former champions have played well in patches, but they have struggled somewhat to be consistent in their performances while conceding their advantage to their opponents.
In contrast, Havelock SC have been able to snatch every opportunity that came their way and have never looked back after that early setback against the traditional rivals CR and FC on their home grounds in the opening match of the tournament.
They have a fabulous set of forwards and a speedy back division with the focus on centre Randitha Warnapura, who is their leading try scorer and fly half Sandesh Jayawickrama, who is their leading points scorer so far in the tournament.
Even then, Police SC would like to recall their last year's game where they gave Havelock SC a good run for their money before going down 17-21 in a close game at Havelock Park.
CH and FC v Kandy SC
Kandy SC will have another chance to sort out their uncertainties when they take on CH and FC in another SLR Nippon Paint Inter-Club League Rugby Tournament first-round match at the Racecourse Grounds in Colombo on Saturday.
The defending champions, despite leading the points table, have looked vulnerable at times but have managed to scrape home in the last two games thanks to some superb individual contributions from their key players. In fact, last week it was the veteran Tharinda Ratwatte who turned out to be their match winner against Police SC with two decisive tries after the game had tied 12-12 at one stage.
Kandy SC, of course, started their campaign with a massive 46-8 victory over Army SC on their home grounds but thereafter, they have really struggled to beat CR and FC (13-11), Air Force SC (24-18), Navy SC (21-18) and Police SC (22-12) respectively. No doubt, they had plenty of injury concerns from the start of the tournament, but it will be important for Kandy SC to get their house in order before they return back for the clash against their nearest rivals Havelock SC next week. For CH and FC, this game will be another tough challenge as they look to come out of their shell having suffered two successive defeats at the hands of CR and FC (19-27) and Havelock SC (17-31) respectively.
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